Research Opportunities

Research Opportunities

Undergraduate Research Opportunities:

A. Wilbert’s Sons Research Internships

Agriculture and Natural Resources Management Fall 2019 – Spring 2020

A. Wilbert’s Sons, LLC is sponsoring multiple research internships in agriculture
and natural resources through a partnership with the LSU AgCenter. Undergraduate students
interested in topics such as forestry management, wildlife ecology and management,
agronomic plant and soil systems, environmental management, and crop production economics
are encouraged to apply.

Company Background:

In 1848, Anton Wilbert settled in Plaquemine, Louisiana, from Germany and bought land
for timber to support his cabinet and coffin trade. Now known as A. Wilbert’s Sons,
LLC, the company owns approximately 120,000 acres in Louisiana and Mississippi and
manages property ranging from bottomland hardwood timber, plantation pine timber,
agricultural row crops, eucalyptus and pasture land to commercial real estate.

Internship Overview:

High-achieving students have an opportunity to pursue research projects and benefit
from mentorship by LSU faculty advisors and A. Wilbert’s Sons personnel. As part of
the application process, candidates are required to identify a faculty advisor and
submit a research project proposal aligned with the interests of A. Wilbert’s Sons.
Depending on the nature of the projects and availability of funding, the internships
require a minimum one-semester commitment beginning Fall 2019 and may possibly be
extended up to a full year. Interns will receive up to $8,000 in support for supplies,
travel expenses associated with their respective internships and salaries based on
the number of hours worked at an hourly rate of $11.60. Interns will report to their
faculty advisors for projects and work schedules and complete duties as assigned.
Their responsibilities will include mid-term and final reports as well as reports
to A. Wilbert’s Sons' management upon or near the completion of their projects.

Qualifications:

Eligible applicants are undergraduates enrolled full-time at LSU with priority given
to those with a minimum cumulative LSU GPA of 3.20 or higher who are sophomores, juniors,
or seniors majoring in Agricultural Business, Natural Resource Ecology and Management,
Plant and Soil Systems or Environmental Management Systems and who meet the LSU AgCenter’s
hiring eligibility requirements. Applicants must have a valid U.S. driver’s license,
their own transportation and flexibility to travel to Plaquemine, Louisiana, and other
areas in state.

Application Process:

Interested students are invited to submit their proposals, applications and resumes
to:

Proposals and application materials will be evaluated and ranked by a faculty committee
and representatives of A. Wilbert’s Sons. (See “Application Form,” “Proposal Format”
and “Evaluation Criteria” for internship proposals on the following pages.)

All applicants will be notified of funding decisions by September 20, 2019.

Funding period starts October 1, 2019.

Applications for this 2019-20 research internship have closed. Please come back and
apply in Fall 2020 if you are interested.